Living to Please God

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This is a sermon that explores what the Bible has to say about pleasing God. Several passages of Scripture are used which speak of various actions that are pleasing to the Lord. When we say that we want to live our lives pleasing to the Lord, what does that entail?

Written Excerpts:

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ^(NKJV) Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God

Introduction:

What motivates people to desire to please someone else? I think most of us would agree that real love and affection towards someone would naturally lead a person to try doing those things that please the one they love. In fact, the Apostle Paul made reference to that when he was writing to the Corinthians and he was explaining how a person who is married strives to please his/her spouse.

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 ^(NKJV) … He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. ³³  But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife. ³⁴... The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.

Now, the apostle is explaining how it is that a single person may be able to devote more time and energy in service to the Lord than a married person can. But he specifically says that the husband is concerned with pleasing his wife, and the wife is concerned with pleasing her husband. If that were true 100% of the time, it would probably solve a host of marital problems, wouldn’t it?

I’m going to make a little confession here… I do not succeed 100% of the time in “pleasing my wife!” I’m sure that there are many ways that I have failed to do so. But… I want to. Because I love her, I want to please her. I don’t want to cause her displeasure. Well, this isn’t a sermon about marriage, so I better move on!

Several months ago I read something that got me to thinking about what it really means to please the Lord. It seems to me that there are a number of people who say they desire to please God, but I’m not sure if they even know what pleases Him. Today, I want to speak about “Living to Please God.”
In order to do so, we are going to look at several passages of Scripture that specifically speak about God being pleased or not pleased with the actions of different people.

Right before we look at these passages of Scripture, here are some things to think about in regards to pleasing other people.

(Quote attributed to more than one person) I can’t tell you the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.

(T-shirt slogan) I am a recovering people-pleaser. (Is that okay?)

(Cartoon by Nicole Lee) Words on tombstone: I apologize if my death saddens or inconveniences you. Comment by gravesite visitors: They say she was a chronic people pleaser.

(goodreads.com) Always trying to please others is definitely an assured path to stress and failures in life. ― Edmond Mbiaka

(Charles Oakes, netfunny.com) An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey & the old man walked. As they went along, they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking & the boy was riding.

The man & boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.

Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk!

Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.

Finally they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy & man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal & he fell into the river and drowned.

Such is the life of the one who obsesses over pleasing everyone.

Let’s take a look at several different passages of Scripture to discover what the Bible says about pleasing God.

1) Giving praise pleases God.

Psalm 69:30-31 ^(NKJV) I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. ³¹ This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.

The person who desires to please God gives praise and thanks to the Lord out of a sincere heart of gratitude.

2) Living in the Spirit pleases God.

Romans 8:8 ^(NKJV) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

In Romans 8, Paul draws a clear contrast between living life to satisfy the flesh and living life under the control of the Spirit.

In verse 8 he says that those who are “in the flesh” cannot please God, which directly implies that those who are “in the Spirit” do please God.

The person who desires to please God surrenders his/her life to the control of the Holy Spirit.

3) Faithfulness to God’s call pleases Him.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NKJV) But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, tells them that he has been entrusted with a sacred assignment to proclaim the gospel. In carrying out that assignment, Paul says that he is not trying to please men, but please God. He doesn’t speak with the motivation of trying to make people think highly of him, but to be accountable to God. In the same sentence he continues by saying, “God, who tests the hearts.” In other words, God not only knows what we are doing, but He knows why we do it. 

Those who desire to please God will faithfully carry out the calling and assignments that God places upon them.

4) Supporting God’s servants pleases Him.

1 Thessalonians 2:15 (NKJV) who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 

In this text the Apostle explains that the people who have persecuted them do not please God. Therefore, we conclude that those who support and care for God’s servants are pleasing to God. We need to be careful to not oppose God’s anointed and chosen servants who are trying to carry out His will and promote His kingdom.

Those who desire to please God support His servants.

5) Continuing to grow in grace pleases God.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NKJV) Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 

Colossians 1:10 (NKJV) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

In both of these passages of Scripture Paul writes to two different churches and admonishes them to “walk” in such a way as to please God. “Walk” simply means to live life. They are urged to abound (grow) more and more and to be fruitful in every good work while increasing in the knowledge of God. If we go on and read the next few verses in each of these passages we learn what he had in mind when he wrote about walking pleasing to God.

1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 ^{(NKJV) 2} for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:11-12 ^(NKJV) strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

The Christian life was never meant to be a life of ease and just coasting along day by day. It is a life of digging deeper, and stretching higher in the spiritual knowledge of God’s Word and striving to know more of God’s will.

The person who desires to please God will continue to develop and become more mature in the life of faith.

6) Generosity is pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18 (NKJV) Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 

Paul tells the Christians at Philippi that a gift has been sent to them provided by other believers. This gift is a “sweet-smelling aroma” to the Lord and it is pleasing to God.

People who desire to please the Lord give generously to God’s work and for God’s causes.

Conclusion:

Jesus stated that He always does the things that please His Father.

That should be our desire and motivation as well. But, it is more than just a trite little saying to soothe our minds and conscience. There actually are ways we can please God and there are ways we can displease Him. Let us purpose to always strive to please our gracious and loving heavenly Father. Let us start out each day with the sincere prayer, “Lord, help me to please you today in all I do and say.”

John 8:29 (NKJV) And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." 

If Jesus desired to please the Father, then we need to be like Jesus in that way as well.

O to Be Like Thee